Liquid dispenser



W. H. HAUPT Feb, 3, 1931.

LIQUID DISPENSER Filed Oct. 2, 1929 2 $heets-Sheer. 1

INWENTOR x44,-

Feb. 3 1931. Q w, I 1,791,129

LIQUID DISPENSER Filed Oct. 2. 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 4,5 INV'fNTOR MNEY Patented Feb. 3, 1931 barren res WALTER n. HAUPT, or LUDLOW,

OFFICE Lianne nrsrnnsnn Application, filed October 2 The invention relates to liquid dispensers of that type having apair of measuring chambers, with means for supplying liquid thereto and means for conducting the meas- Med quantities therefrom, together with automatic valve mechanism, operated or controlled by pressure on the liquid, for causing each chamber to be supplied with liquid while the other is emptying, and vice-versa.

Such dispensers have been provided with an air-pressure system for preventing the condition known as overlapping, that is to say the outflow from a chamber being cut oil by the valve mechanism before the chamber has completely emptied its measured quantity into the delivery conduit, a condition which would result in the customer receiving less than the intended amount of gasolene or other liquid commodity.

The purpose of this invention is to insure full deliveries by providing a means which will render the dispenser inoperative in case of a defect in the air-pressure system.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part hereof:

Fig. 1 is a schematic view, principally in vertical section, illustrating the invention, mechanisms Which would lie one behind another being shown side by side, and shafts on which a plurality of parts are mounted being projected by broken lines;

Fig. 2 is an elevation on a larger scale of the locking and unlocking mechanism, showing certain parts in two positions in full and v broken lines, respectively; and

Fig. 3 is asimilar view showing the locking element retracted, the oscillatory mechanism being shown in an intermediate position in full lines and in a raised position in broken lines.

The apparatus has twin measuring chambers 2 and 2 mounted on a suitable frame or casting 3 containing passages and piston chambers. In actual practice this casting is supported on a suitable pedestal or casing, which it has not been thought necessary to illustrate and which contains or supports a pump 4t, a master valve 5, and a supply conduit 6 leading from the underground reservoir to the pump, thence to the valve 5, and

, 1929. Serial No. 336,727.

thence to automatic valve mechanism in the casting 3 which controls the flow of liquid branches 7 and 7 The automatic valve mechanism pretenably includes a double piston valve 8 operating in cylinder chambers 9 and 9 The branches 7 of the conduit '6 open into the outer ends of these'chambers, and the heads 10 and 10 ofthe valves are adapted to travel past ports 11, and 11 which communicate with passages 12 and 12 in the casting 3, these passages or spaces extending downward from the bottoms of the measuring chambers 2. A delivery conduit 13 leads from a space 1 located between the piston valve chambers 9 and forming part of the same general cavity therewith. A delivery hose 13 is connected with the outer portion of this conduit.

The arrangement is such that the valve 8 reciprocates between extreme portions, in one of which the head 10 cuts oil" the port 11 from the branch 7 of the supply conduit and places said port in communication with the delivery conduit 13, while at the same time the head 10 cuts off the port l1 from the delivery conduit and places that port in communication with the branch 7 of the supply conduit.

In the other position or" the valve 8, these conditions are reversed.

A'double-ended pressure actuated piston 14 operates in a cylinder chamber 15 which extends between and in communication with the spaces 12 and 12. A rocker-arm 16 operatively connects this piston, with a rockshaft 17. Another rocker-arm 18 operatively connects the four-way reversing valve 8 with a rock-shaft 19.

A quick-throw mechanism 20*is interposed between the rock-shafts 17 and 19. This mechanism may comprise a rocker-arm 21 fixed to the roclrshaft 17 and having articulated connection with v a telescopic link 22 containing a compression spring 23, the link 22 being pivotally connected with the lower end of a link 24-, which, in turn, is freely pivoted at its upper end on the rock-shaft 17. The links 22 and 24 are loosely connected at their lower ends with a rocker-arm which is fixed to the rock-shaft 19. Spaced abutments 26 cooperate with the arm 21.

The measuring chambers 2 and 2 have vents 27 and 27* at the top, each adapted to be closed when its chamber is filled with liquid by float valve 28 or 28. A conduit 29 may connect the float chambers 30 and 30*.

When the master valve 5 is open, operation of the pump a will supply liquid to the measuring chamber 2 (assuming the parts to be in the position of l) until that chamber is filled and its vent valve 28" is automatically closed. The operator or customer continues to pump, and the pressure on the liquid which then develops in the chamber 2 and its connected spaces 12 and 9 acts on the righthand end of the piston 1% so as to move the latter to the left. This movement rocks the shaft 17 and straights-ins the links 21 and 22, compressing the spring 23. As soon as these links are carried past their line of centers, the spring 23 quickly throws the toggle to a position reverse to that shown in 1, thereby throwing the link 24: to the right. This in turn quickly shifts the reversing valve 8 to its other extreme position, whereupon the measured quantity of liquid flows out of the chamber J and its passage space l2 to and through the delivery conduit 13, while liquid from the pump proceeds to enter the measuring chamber 2.

This cycle of operations is repeated until the master valve 5 is closed, preventing any more liquid being supplied to the measuring chambers and the automatic valve mechanism.

It will be understood that the capacity of each measuring chamber inclusive oi its passage space 1.2 or 12 This capacity may be one gallon, for example, or any other suitable predetermined volume.

The master valve 5 is controll d by a predeterminer 31. Such predeterminers are known, and since the predeterminer forms no part of the present invention it will be sufficient to say that, before making a delivery, the disc is turned a distance corresponding to the iount of: liquid to be delivered, and

the dispenser operates it moves automatically until, at the completion of the desired delivery, the notch in the disc permits the valve to close. 7

The type of dispensing meter illustrated is known, similar meter being; disclosed in the Carbonaro Patent 1,612,488, dat-d December 28, 1926. Consequently, the present invention does not reside in the particular construction of the meter and theautomatic mechanism which has been described.

A feature which has been introduced into this typeof dispenser by others before me comprises a means for supplying air pressure to the measuring chambers. This is illustrated by an air pump 32 connected so as to be operated in conjunction with the operation of the liquid pump l, and a line 33 extend ing from the pressure side oi' the air pump to the pipe 29. Another feature heretofore provided is a spring-load d relief alve 3% connected with the conduit 3 between the pump l and the dispenser, with a return line from this valve to the reservoir (not shown).

One of the purposes of supplying air pressure to the measuring chambers is to hasten the emptying of each chamber. Furthermore, this pressure on the emptying side of the piston 14 requires additional pressure on the filling chamber side of the piston to throw the piston and bring about the actuation of t 1e valve. Consequently if the relief valve 3 is set to open at a liquid pres sure only slightly above that which would be required to operate the piston in the absence or pressure, the piston will not be oper ated until the emptying cylinder has become completely emptied and the air pressure has been thereby suiiiciently reduced so that the liquid pressure can throw the piston.

In these ways overlapping may be prevented. By overlapping is meant one chamber becoming filled and starting to empty before the other chamber has been completely emptied. Since neither chamber can start to empty until the condition of the valve mechanism has been reverse d, this would mean that some liquid would be trapped in each chamber at each operation of the mechanism, and the customer would not receive full quantity.

Another way in which the air pressure guards against overlapping is by slightly retardi 1g the filling or each cylinder while hastening" the emptying; of the other cylinder, so that each chamber does not become totally filled until immediately after the emptying of the other chamber has been completed.

ll, however, a leak should develop in any part of the air-pressure system, or if the airpump should fail to function properly, or if a dishonest person should disconnect or loosen the air piping, or it for any other reason the air pressure should not be adequate, overlapping may occur or may be produced.

The purpose of this invention is to protect the customer such contingencies and to insure that the air-pressure system will be kept in such proper condition as to prevent overlapping. The plan is accordingly such that if the air-pressure system should get or be put out of order the dispenser will at once become inoperative and can not be operated again until either the piping has been properly connected or else any trouble in the airpump has been corrected. In its broad aspect the invention. comprises a suitable lock for the automatic reversing valve mechanism, or part connected therewith, and a device operated or controlled by air pressure for releasing the lock. The invention is susceptible of embodiment in different ways and the construction and relations to be described are to be regarded as illustrative.

On a convenient portion of the rock-shaft 17 there is an arm 36. This arm is connected by a link 37 with one end of a bent lever 38, which is fulcrumed at 39 on a suitable support 40. The connection between the shaft 17 and the lever 38 is such that this lever executes a full oscillation, to and fro, for each single movement of the rock-shaft, that is to say for each rectilinear movement of the piston 14- and of the double valve member 8.

The upturned end 41 carries a lateral lug 42, which is adapted to be engaged by a shoulder 43 on a locking element 44. This locking element may be an upstanding arm pivoted I at its lower end on a pin 45, and the arm may erably of the metal bellows have an inclined edge 46 above the shoulder.

A fluid pressure actuated device 47, preftype, and mounted on support 40 with the other parts now being described has a stem 48 adapted to bear against a lateral projection 49 on the locking element 44, so that when the device 47 is expanded by the proper degree of pres sure the element 44 will be retracted out of locking relation to the lug 42, leaving'the portion 41 of the lever 38 free to rise. When the requisite pressure is not applied to the device 47,it will contract, owing to the manner in which its walls are tensioned, thereby permitting the element 44 to return to locking position under the action of a biasing spring 50.

Air pressure is preferably admitted to the device 47 through an air line 51 connected with the air line- 33. However, I do not limit myself in respect to the precise manner in which pressure reaches the device 47 or its equivalent.

A catch or detent is preferably provided for holding the locking element 44 in retracted position after it has been moved to such position by the device 47. This detent may consist of an arm 52 pivoted at 56 on the support 40 and having a shoulder 57 adapted to catch the upper extremity of the locking element 44 when the latter is retracted. The spring 50 may be connected at its opposite ends to the detent and to the locking element,

ward the end of each upstroke of said por tion. Thus, the locking element is freed from I the detent at each operation of the automatic valve mechanism of the dispenser, so that the locking elementcan then re-lock the drawn by the spring 50 into locking engage ment with the lug 42 when the latter has ridden down the incline 46 and come beneath the shoulder 43. Normally, it will be understood, the dispenser mechanism is locked.

The nozzle 53 of the delivery hose is pro vvid-ed as usual with a shut-oif valve 54. WVhen the predete-rminer 31 has been set and the pumps 4 and 32 have been started (usually these are operated by motor instead of by hand), or before starting the pumps, the attendant closes the valve 54. This permits air pressure to build up in the measuring chambers and in the delivery conduit and hose until, quite promptly, the device 47 is ex panded so as to retract the element '44, thereby unlocking the automatic valve mechanism of the dispenser. The detent 52 catches the locking element and the operator may then open the valve 54. I p

' When the chamber 2* (let us say) then connected with the liquid supply line 6 is filled and the vent valve 28?.is closed, the pressure developed on the liquid by the action of the pump 4'moves the piston 14. toward its other position and the power thereby stored up in the spring 22 throws the double valve member to the right. This reverses the conditions of liquid flow, and the measured quantit-y in the chamber 2 commences to How out through the'conduit Y13 and hose 13 while the liquid supplied by the pump 4 is swifitched to the chamber '2, which commences to 11.

The movement of the lever 38 produced by the movement of the piston 14 raised the detent 52, whereupon the locking element 44 resumed locking relation to the lever, thereby relocking the valve mechanism. As liquid flows into chamber 2' and flows out of cham ber 2 the air pressure rises to a maximum and then falls off. When the air pressure reaches a certain value, it causes the device 47 to move back the locking element 44, which is again caught by'the detent 52. The valve mechanism is thereby unlocked, so that'when the pressure on the liquid becomes sufficient, the valve mechanism will be thrown to connect chamber 2 again with the supply and chamber 2 with the delivery conduit. This operation again raised the detent 52 and caused the element 44 once more to relock the valve mechanism.

The cycle of operations is repeated until the predetermined number of gallons or other measured quantities has been delivered.

In the particular system which has been described there is a fluctuation in the air ment is completed by spring action, but

pressure, as described, and the rise in pres sure which occurs during the filling of each chamber is utilized to push out the locking element i l, the detent 52 then holding said element in unlocked position until liquid pressure causes the valve mechanism to reverse. Upon each reversal of the valve mechanism, the detent "2 is lifted, and the air pressure having then fallen the mechanism becomes locked again and stays locked until the next rise in air pressure unlocks it once more.

However, if the air pressure should remain fairly constant throughout a delivery, or if it should not fall below the value which is suliicient to keep the element 44: retracted, the mechanism would remain unlocked until the last quantity was delivered. I do not exclude that mode of operation.

If at any time there should be a defect in the air pressure system, or if it should be tam pered with, the pressure in the device l7 will not rise sufficiently to unlock the mechanism. Consequently the dispenser will be locked or irtually locked until the air-pressure system is put in order.

In this connection it may be stated that notwithstanding the existence of an air leak. it may be possible for the attendant to deliver a single quantity by temporarily shutting the hose valve 54: so as to build up an initial air pressure. This will be a full quan-- tity, and as soon as it flows out from the chamber 2 or 2 the mechanism will be relocked and will stay locked permanently un less the attendant again closes the hose valve. In other Words, if the leak is not too large, the attendant may be able to bring about the delivery of single quantities by closing the hose valve each time, but there can not be overlapping under such conditions. An air leak causes the mechanism to be permanently locked as far as continuous operation is concerned, it being continuous or normal operation of the dispenser which may involve overlapping and short delivery in the absence of proper air pressure.

For convenience the valve mechanism, including the piston 1e and the device 20, is referred to as an automatic reversing valve mechanism. operable by pressure on the liquid. In the mechanism illustrated the valve is actually thrown by a spring, or its movesince the entire operation is primarily dependent on the pressure developed on the liquid in a chamber which has been filled, it is proper to refer to it as a liquid pressure operated (or controlled) mechanism. By reversing is meant that the conditions of ii uid flow are reversed or interchanged with respect to the two chambers. I do not intend to limit my self to the particular mechanism shown, since that is not new with me and since other forms of automatic valve mechanism may be employed. The term lock used herein is to be understood in a general sense.

Neither do I wish to limit myself to the particular organization of the whole or of the desi n of the new part of the dispenser, since these may be widely varied. The claims are intended to cover the invention generically and specifically and in all aspects which as a matter of language may be said to fall therebetween.

It will be understood that the locking and unlocking mechanism will be suitably enclosed against unauthorized access.

I claim:

1. In a liquid dispenser, the combination with two measuring chambers, means for supplying liquid thereto and means for conducting liquid therefrom, automatic reversing valve mechanism operable by pressure on the liquid to cause each chamber in turn to be supplied with liquid while the other is emptying, and means for supplying air pressure to the chambers; of a lock for said reversing valve mechanism, and air-pressure operated means for releasing said lock.

2. In a liquid dispenser, the combination with two measuring chambers, means for supplying liquid thereto and means for con ducting liquid therefrom, automatic reversing valve mechanism operable by pressure on the liquid to cause each chamber in turn to be supplied with liquid while the other is emptying, and means for supplying air pressure to the chambers; of a lock for said reversing valve mechanism, an air-pressure responsive device for releasing said lock, and a conduit connecting said device with said means for supplying air pressure to the chambers.

3. In a liquid dispenser, the combination with two measuring chambers, means for supplying liquid thereto and means for conducting liquid therefrom, automatic reversing valve mechanism operable by pressure on the liquid to cause each chamber in turn to be supplied with liquid while the other is emptying, and means for supplying air pressure to the chambers; of an oscillatory member connected with said reversing valve mechanism, a locking element coactino with said oscillatory member and biased E locking position, air-pressure operated means for retracting said locking element, an automatic detcnt for holding said locking element retracted, and means whereby said locking element is freed from said detent at each operation of said reversing valve mechanism.

4:. In a liquid dispenser, the combination with two measuring chambers, means for supplying liquid thereto and means for conducting liquid therefrom, automatic reversing valve mechanism operable by pressure on the liquid to cause each chamber in turn to be supplied with liquid while the other is emptying, said mechanism including a rockshaft, and means for supplying air-pressure to said chambers; of an oscillatory member, a connection between said oscillatory memher and said rock-shaft of such nature that said member executes a complete oscillation to and fro for each single movement of said rock-shaft, a locking element coacting With said oscillatory member and biased to locking position, air-pressure operated means for retracting said locking element, an automatic detent for holding said locking element retracted, and means whereby each oscillation of said oscillatory member disengages said detent from said locking element.

WALTER H. HAUPT. 

